Retro Corner: 'The Lost Vikings'

Whenever a new Blizzard game releases - such as the colossal Diablo 3 this week - there comes a cry from the publisher's loyal fanbase for them to work on one of their lesser known classics next. High up the list are Blackthrone and Rock 'N' Roll Racing, but the one we'd love to see make a comeback is The Lost Vikings.

It was a side-scrolling platformer for 16-bit systems focused on puzzle-based exploration and survival. Three Vikings - Erik the Swift, Baleog the Fierce, and Olaf the Stout - are abducted by aliens for an intergalactic zoo, and must escape captivity and travel through time to make it back home.

Controlling one Viking at once, players had to use their respective but limited abilities in a specific order to survive. Erik could jump and run, bashing his way through walls for others to travel through. Baleog can kill enemies using a sword or bow, while Olaf can be stationed to block attacks and can survive long drops by using his shield as a glider.

With enemies, drops and hazards deviously positioned through each level, players had to carefully consider where each character had to be at the right time. Death could occur at every corner, but experimentation was made possible to replay a stage as many times as required.

It was received well enough to be given a direct sequel, which added two bizarre new characters - Fang the Wolf and Scorch the Dragon - while the original trio were given new abilities. The objectives and structure remained the same however, with players using three of the five leads to tackle all-new puzzle-filled stages.

While there are no plans for future Lost Viking games, Blizzard enjoys giving them appearances in their games. Both Blackthrone and Rock 'N' Roll Racing featured cameos for the characters, and most recently they appeared as characters in a minor World of Warcraft quest as well as a string of mentions in StarCraft II.

Those looking to play The Lost Vikings again on a console will struggle, but the PC original has since been released as abandonware, making it free and legal to download. Meanwhile Frozenbyte's Trine series also strikes a similar vibe, even if it's a little more action oriented, with three different heroes each with their own abilities in a side-scrolling platformer.

Do you have many fond memories of The Lost Vikings? Add a comment to the space below!